Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  Great cruiser. - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By RDavis - August 5 - 3:40 pm

  To and from work, to and from work. This is what I bought this vehicle for. I wanted comfort, convenience, advanced tech (MP3, iPod port, etc), better mileage. I got them all in this car. I had a Lexus ES. I prefer this vehicle. This will be our touring car as well. Ive gotten over 40 MPG on flat freeways and 35-37 MPG on my daily route because there are a lot of hills. I consider this excellent! Ive had it for about a month and I think its well worth every penny.

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  Best SUV - 1997 Toyota 4Runner
  By infinitewisdom - August 5 - 1:17 pm

  bought my 97 SR5 as a demo with 20k on it. It has been the most reliable car ever. I think the late 90s was a time when Japan and Toyota in particular decided to overtake GM and Ford in market share and the chose product quality as their method of attack. Essentially this car is the antithesis of a GM or Ford. It never breaks. I have replaced the battery brakes and tires and a few worn out mechanisms like the ignition switch and bulbs but everything else remains in perfect working order and starts every single time I turn it over. I just hit 225k and am handing the keys to my 16 year old daughter who refuses to drive anything else because she grew up in this vehicle.

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  Pretty Happy - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By lilduke - August 5 - 10:45 am

  Got my Highlander Limited in December, and so far I love it. It was change coming from a luxury brand but the trade-offs were totally worth it. I purchased the Highlander mainly to transport my family (2 and 4 legged) and still have some room left over. I have been able to do so with no issues. The ride is fantastic and the gas mileage is actually pretty good. I took it on a 1500mi round trip expedition over the holidays and on the first day I filled up twice, which was surprising for a full sized SUV. On the way back, the weather sucked (snow) and I was in 4WD most of the way, however I only filled up three times.

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  I love this car - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By Jerry - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I put about 10,000 miles a year on this car with no major problems, keep the oil changed and do the maintenance on required basis and this car will last forever.

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  Venza review - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Jimmy Houston - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I put 6k miles on it in the first 2 mos and have been very pleased with the way it handles and its performance. I selected the 4 cylinder engine for a little better fuel economy. The ride is great and the interior space is more than any vehicle I have owned. The back seat is huge.

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  Great job, Toyota! - 2011 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mike - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This is my second 4Runner, my first being a 2006 SR5 4WD. I have also driven a 2000 SR5. Toyota has done an excellent job with the redesign of this vehicle. It still feels like a 4Runner, but has better power, comfort and refinement all around. I am hard pressed to find a reason for some of the negative reviews I have read, as the vehicle is as good as it gets for a SUV. I am averaging 19.5 mpg, the seats are very comfortable, the engine has plenty of power, the turning radius is small, the suspension soaks up everything, and the vehicle just has an overall feel of quality. The 10 4Runner has remained true to its roots, but is better than ever.

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  Camry is economical with comfort - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By LEON - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I have put 15,000 miles on my camry. I drive 98% highway and my gas mileage is 32-34 mpg. I set the Cruise control and stay the limit. Comfort is fantastic. Driving 12 hours from nc to Ohio is the best! Has good power for going through the Virginia and West Virginia mountains. Suspension is that of a high dollar vehicle with a fraction of the expense. With oil changes only due every 10,000 miles, makes it convenient as well. I have owned over 60 vehicles in my driving years and this is the best value for the money I have owned. I have had Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, Mazda, Ford, Subaru, Mercury, etc. I went back to Toyota twice. Yes, my Toyota is American made - Tennessee - another reason I purchased.

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  Like the Looks - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Paul C - August 5 - 10:00 am

  Totaled a a Mazda6 and found the lease price of the Camry to hard to pass up. It does not handle like the Mazda did but the acceleration is about the same. Our payment from the Mazda to this dropped over $100 and our insurance went down $50 a year. Im 66 and well over 300 pounds and fit like a charm. This car also gives my wife the room to sit between two car seats if she needs to.

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  SR5 V8 4WD - 2003 Toyota 4Runner
  By Mark - August 5 - 8:43 am

  Absolutely great ride! Perfect performer. Pulls 3400# Boat w/no probs (rated for 7000#) through mountains! Full time 4wd makes seamless driving in mud (snow tests this winter)! Miss my Tundras hauling abilities (the truck bed) but what could I expect? Yes, sulfer smell with rear window open and engine under pressure. Sunroof is great. MPG is 15- 20, constant 2-3 under what the onboard computer states.?. Tons of compliments!

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  Great Value, Reliability and Performance - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By S. C. Charles - August 5 - 1:49 am

  Ive owned the Avalon for 6 months and 3 weather seasons, Im very pleased with the performance, comfort and economy of this full size sedan. There are minor annoyances and all cars have them. This car has a few, Updates to the NAV expensive, Road noise a bit more than a car of this class should have and oral commands to the NAV and phone problematic. The high points are the ride is both firm and comfortable, the quality of the interior is exceptional, the sound system is very high quality, the engine is powerful and the effortless shifting of the transmission is flawless, the MPG in a full size car with 268 HP is unbeatable. I did purchase the vehicle used with 8K miles on it at a substantial discount to the sticker price and I feel I received a great value for a car Ill drive for at least 10 years. The reliability of a Toyota is accurately stated by biased and unbiased authorities alike. Suffice to say Im very happy with the purchase and looking forward to driving this car for a long time. Update Ive now owned the car for over a year (over 10,000 mile driven) and could not be happier with the purchase. Ive experienced no mechanical issues and the car is as good as the day I brought it home. Great Job on the redesign and continued reliability Toyota! Id gladly buy it again today! Update Ive now owned the car for almost 2 years and my initial review was accurate the cars interface with the phone/NAV has greatly improved. The mileage is very good at 26.5, the handling of the vehicle is that of a sports car, the ride is a bit rough for a luxury car but very quiet and smooth. Id buy the car again without a thought.